Tractor implement and control



Sept. 27, 1949 R. E. HARTISOCK arm. I 2,482,751

' TRACTOR IMPLEMENT AND common 5 SheetsSheet 1 Filed July 8, 1943 D QATTORNEY ET AL 2,482,751

Sept. 27, 1949.

R. E. HARTSOCK TRACTOR IMPLEMENT AND CONTROL Filed July 8, 1943 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 N QNR MUN A E" f gal BN1? i a/vv W79/VKA4 53M ATTORNEY V. B .2 N .6 3 m3 N 2 i an MN 93 1 Sept. 27, 1949. R. E. HARTSQCK ETAL 2,432,751

TRACTOR IMPLEMENT AND common 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 8, 1943 INVENT RS ll 714w, Q3 5 y fiff ATTORNEY Sept; 1949 R. E. HARTSOCK arm. 2,482,751

TRACTOR IMPLEMENT AND CONTROL Fi1ed 'Jul'y a, 1943 s Shets-Sheei 4 IN V EN TORS A TTORNEY Sept. 27, 1M9.

R. E. HARTSOCK EI'AL TRACTOR IMPLEMENT AND CONTROL 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 8, 1943 an Na E N u .2 w Gm mhw vn 3 (a I l n l I A T ORNEY Sept. 27, 1949. R. E. HARTSOCK ETAL I TRACTOR IMPLEMENT AND CONTROL 6 Shets-Sheet 6 Filed July 8, 1943 A TTORNEY Patented Sept. '27, 1949 TRACTOR IMPLEMENT AND CONTROL Robert E. Hartsock, Rockford, and Richard w. Henss, Rock Island, 11]., assignors to J. I. Case Company, Racine, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application July s, 1943, Serial No. 493,852

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to tractors and particularly to the type of machine which embodies a tractor equipped with soil working tools, and an object is to generally improve the construction and operation of devices of this class.

Such agricultural machines are commonly equipped with mechanism for raising and lowering the tools at the end of the row and for these purposes it has been customary to employ mechanism at the rear of the tractor including rock shafts, reach rods and the like above and at the sides of the tractor platform. These mechanisms not only encumbered the platform and interfered to some extent with the operation and control of the tractor, but also constituted a hazard to the tractor operator since they would be moved with considerable force whenever the power lift mechanism was operated.

The principal object of the invention accordingly is to dispose, in a tractor equipped with soil working tools, the power lift mechanism, actuating rods and other parts to the largest possible extent beneath or at least away from the platform so as to obtain a clear platform and avoid the hazards stated.

. It is desirable under some circumstances to furnish the tractor with soil working tools at the front and also at the rear, whereas under other circumstances, it is desirable to provide tools at the front only or at the rear only.

It is also an object of the invention to provide power lift mechanism which is adaptable to lifting rigs at either the front or the rear, or both, and without substantial change beyond the omission of unnecessary parts.

Tractors are often supplied equipped with pOW- er lifts but also at times are supplied without power lifts and an object of the invention is to supply certain parts and expedients which will be common to tractors having power lifts while being equally adaptable to tractors not equipped with power lifts but in which these parts are used for the purpose of lifting the soil working tools, but actuated by hand.

The manner in which these objects are accomplished will be apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings in which satisfactory embodiments of the invention are shown, but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention as herein expressed.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a left side elevation of so much of wheel, and I2 and I3 its driving wheels.

a tractor as necessary to illustrate the invention, parts being removed and others being shown in section to avoid hiding essential elements, the tractor in this instance being equipped with cultivating implements.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same with parts broken away. v

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of certain mechanism indicated in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical axial sectional view of a ram indicated in Figs. 1 to 3.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a hydraulic pump unit taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fi 6 is an enlarged left side elevation of certain mechanism indicated in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a right side elevation of a tractor similar to Fig. 1, showing similar mechanism but constituted to be lifted by hand.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of so much of the mechanism as is characteristic of the hand lift construction of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged front elevation of certain parts indicated in Figs. 1, 2, 7 and 8.

Fig. 10 is a left sideelevation of the same.

Fig. 11 is a right side elevation with parts broken away with the mechanism set up to carry and operate a plow.

Fig. 12 is a detail of the left side of the same with parts broken away.

In Figs. 1 and 2, a tractor cultivator is illustrated adaptable for cultivating two rows in which numeral I0 indicates a tractor, II the steering The parts of the tractor being substantially conventional, it need not be further described in detail except as necessary from time to time as the description of the other parts proceeds.

At' the forward end of the tractor is secured a supporting member in the form of square pipes It and I5 for supporting cultivator gangs l6 and I! andwhich may be of any appropriate construction except as presently described.

The tractor comprises in general an engine portion l8, carried by afront truck l8 2. middle portion I9, a transmission section 20 and a rear axle portion 2|, united as is common to form the body of the tractor and to which are connected the various implements which the tractor is to propel, and including a draw bar 22 of any suitable or well-known construction which is used when it is desired to draw vehicles or implements, which are supported independently of the tractor in well-known manner.

The present invention deals with implements which will be carried by the tractor and which function a yoke member generally designated as 23 is pivotally mounted preferably astride of mid portion I8, on pintles 24 and 25 so as to be rockable fore-and-aft for controlling the position of the implements. Yoke 23 comprises generally upwardly diverging side portions 26 and 21, united by a cross brace 28, sides 26 and 21 divergwill cause up-and-down movement respectively ing sufiiciently to clear the sides of the engine hood indicated at 28 and to line up with other mechanism to be described. It is to be noted thatyoke 23 is common to all the several implement arrangements illustrated.

As seen in Fig. 3, portion 21 carries a pivot, pintle or the like 38 to which is connected an actuating rod 3|, connected by a pivot 32 with an arm 33 extending upwardly from an oscillatin-g square shaft or rock shaft 34, carried on above mentioned square pipe I and which is operable to raise and lower implements I1 as will be apparent. The effective length of rod 3| can be adjusted by shifting the position of a lever 35 .fulcrumed on above mentioned pintle 38 and which is connected by a pivot bolt or the like 36 with a portion 31 of rod 3I forming with a portion 38 a loop-like terminus of said rod.

Portion 38 is provided with a series of notches 38-39 and forms a quadrant for engaging a detent 48 for fixing the position of the lever relative to rod 3|. As will be apparent, rocking of yoke 23 will cause fore-and-aft movement of .rod 3|, as if pivoted on pintle 38 while shifting of lever 35 will cause such movement independent of rocking of yoke 23. Thus, changing of. lever 35 will alter the range of movement of rod 3|, and accordingly oscillate shaft 34, assuming a constant range of movement of yoke 23. -This will change thedepth of penetration, for example, of implements I1.

Tractors having implements at the front are commonly provided with implements also at the back, for example for removing any tracks left by the wheels I2, I3, 4| and 42. In the present instance, a cross beam or bar 43, Fig. 2, is spaced backwardly from rear axle portions 44-45 by braces 46 and 41 pivoted respectively on pivots 48 and 48, which are preferably removably carried by axle sections 44 and 45 in clamping elements 58 and 5| secured to axle elements 44 and 45 by bolts 52-52. Bolts 52-52 clamp portions 58 and 5| beneath axle portions 44 and 45 and are connected above said portions by straps or clamping elements 53 and 54.

Braces 46 and 41 extend backwardly to clamping plates 51-58 and 5868, respectively, between which above mentioned bar 43 is clamped as by bolts 6I6I. Cultivating shovels or other desired tools 62, 63 and 64 of any desired or suitable type are fixed in well-known manner to bar 43. In the present instance, each tool, for example 63, has a shank portion 65, a safety release of well-known type generally designated as 66 and a shovel portion 61. Tools 62 and 64, being identical, with 63, will not be further described. 1

As above indicated, the construction including bar 43 and braces 46 and 41 may be raised and lowered by rocking of yoke 23, and this is accomplished as follows: Yoke 23 has a pivot 68 connected by a link 68 to a pivot 18 on a bell crank 1|, pivoted on a fulcrum 12 fixed on a bracket or master frame portion 13. 'Pivoted at 14 to above mentioned bell crank 1|, is a link slidable in a trunnion block 16 pivoted at 11 in the present instance in a bifurcated upwardly extending arm 18 fixed with brace 41. Link 15 4 has a collar 18 preventingsliding of the link in one direction and a spring 88, compressed between block 16 and a collar 8|, yieldingly maintains block 16 against collar 18. It will now be apparent that fore-and-aft rocking of yoke 23 of bar 43. Arm 18 is braced by a member 82 attached at 83 to the arm and at 84 to brace 41.

Bracket or'master frame portion 13 comprises an upper leg 85 fastened to transmission portion 28 by a screw or the like 86, conveniently one holding a brake housing- 81. Leg 85 extends forward close to transmission 28 and doubles back, in the present instance to form a lower leg 88, a bolt 88 fastening the juncture of the two legs to a bracket 88 permanently attached to the grlactor for supporting a platform or foot plate The above described elements are preferably duplicated on the other side of the tractor, a link 82 connecting with a bell crank 83, which connects in turn with an arm 84 through a link 95. In this way the lifting force is divided between braces 46 and 41 so that the lift will be even. without making the structure unnecessarily stiff and heavy.

Yoke 23 is preferably rocked by power derived from the tractor engine, and for this purpose a hydraulic cylinder 86 is pivotally mounted at 81 on mid-portion I8 and has a ram 88 acting forwardly on a pivot 88 carried in ears I88 and I8I on yoke 23. Motion imparted to the one will therefore be transmitted to the other as will be'- apparent. Fluid under pressure for actuation of the ram may be obtained for certain purposes in anywell-known manner, a preferred arrangement being described presently. Suitable mechanism is provided for retracting ram 88, in the present instance a lever I82, Fig. 3, being fulcrumed on above mentioned pivot 81 and connected by a link I83 with ear I8I. Lever I82 carries, by means of a pivot or trunnion I84, a block I85 through which a bolt I86 is adjustable by means of a nut I81. Bolt I86 has an eye portion I88 with which is engaged a spring I88. Spring I88 extends rearwardly and is anchored at II8 (Fig. 1) to above mentioned leg 88 of master frame 13 which leg is fastened by a screw III which also fastens above mentioned brake housing 81. Spring I88 therefore exerts a continual pull on link I83 and swings yoke 23 rearwardly whenever pressure is released from cylinder 86.

The pressure fluid for cylinder 86, in the present instance, comes from a reservoir and pump unit generally designated as 2 (Fig. 2). Power originating in a crank shaft 3 of engine I8 is transmitted rearwardly through a fly wheel II4, a clutch I I5, a drive shaft I I6 and a pair of bevel gears H1 and 8 to a shaft II8 which in the present instance may be used to drive a belt pulley if desired. Shaft II9 carries one or more cam members or the like I28I28 which actuate a pump generally designated as I2I, which supplies fiuid through a flexible conduit I22, a bleeder line or pipe I23 leading back from cylinder 86 to unit II2. Pump unit I2I may be caused to force pressure fluid into cylinder 86 through conduit I22 for rocking yoke 23 forwardly or to exhaust fluid from cylinder 96 for rocking yoke 23 rearwardly, ram 88 being retracted by rearward rocking of the yoke caused by spring I88 and its associated mechanism.

Although certain variations are contemplated, a preferred arrangement of fluid system for rocking yoke 23 is indicated in Figs. 4 and 5, As

seen in Fig. 4, cylinder at has a bore m in which is reciprocable a, piston I26 provided with I24. Ram 98 is guided in a cap or head portion I21 provided with a suitable packing generally designated as I28. Head I21 is provided with a bore I29 leading from bore I24 to a bore I30 communicating with above mentioned bleeder pipe I23. Above mentioned pressure pipe I22 connects with a fitting I3I leading into a passageway I32 within cylinder 96 and leading to bore I24. Pressure in pipe I22 accordingly acts on piston I25 and any fluid escaping past packing I26 finds its way through bores I23 and I30 to be returned by-pipe I23 to reservoir II2. Pipe I23 also acts as a breather for the space between piston I25 and head or cap I21.

Reservoir II2, as seen in Fig. 5,..comprises in the present instance a hollow casting providing a bottom opening I33 in which is suitablysecured a pump casting generally designated as I34. Casting I34 has upstanding ears as I35 projecting into reservoir H2 and supporting a pivot shaft I36 on which is rockably mounted, in the present instance, a pair of bell cranks passageway I41. This prevents further access of fluidto pump' cylinder I48 whereupon after one mains built up in passageway I5I and holds the implements in raised position.

When'it is desired to lower the implements, control shaft I52 is rocked in the opposite direction moving control element I56 into the dotted position shown. This releases valve I53 and as I31. These bell cranks actuate a correspondseen in Fig. 6 by a spring I42. .Reciprocation I of the pump plungers draws pressure fluid from reservoir II2 through a suction pipe I43 cone nected with reservoir H2 and casting I34 by suitable fittings as I44 and I45. The fluid passes through a control valve generally designated as, I46 to a passageway I41 communicating with the two pump cylinders formed in casting I34, one of which is designated as I48. Reciprocation of the plungers pumps fluid in well-known manner, sufficient to say through a suction valve I49 into cylinder I48 and forcing the fluid outwardly through a discharge valve I50. Fluid leavin the pump cylinders enters a passageway I5I which communicates with above mentioned pressure conduit I22. This is the action when lifting implements by power and takes place when control valve I46 is in the dotted position shown.

Valve I46 is moved into this position by a rocking control shaft I52 having a flat portion as indicated. During lifting movement there is no tendency for valve I46 to close and the lifting movement accordingly continues regardless of the position of shaft I52, to the point where'further movement is blocked by the linkage or attached implement parts or by contact of piston I 25 with head I21. The pressure in passageway I5I then rises sufllciently to unseat a comtherefore the pressure in passageway I5I and pipe I22. Piston I25 is therefore retracted by spring I09 as above described, the pressure fluid passing valve I53, and valve I58 and passing to reservoir II2 through passageway I59 and pipe I43.

It will be apparent that springs I42 might be made to have different strengths and that if these springs were made strong enough to overcome atmospheric pressure against plunger I, the plunger wouidcontinue to work even though valve I46 were closed. Either mode of operation is contemplated but it is noted that in the first, namely wherein spring I42 is overcome by atmospheric pressure, the working parts are substantially at rest when not in use, with consequent minimizing of wear or other deterioration.

The space behind plunger head I is connected by a passagewayv I59 with the corresponding space behind the opposite plunger (not shown) and passageway I59 is vented to reservoir II2 by a bore I59". Passageway I59 provides for rapid interchange of fluid between one head I40 and the other so that fluid behind the heads will not interfere with the free movement thereof.

bination safety and control valve I53 held'in Control shaft I52 is made fluid tight in any suitable or well-known manner where it leaves casting I34 and has an arm I60 connected by a link I'6I with an arm I62 on a control lever I63 fulcrumed on a pivot I64 carried on a bracket I65 supported from any convenient part of the tractor.

Arm I60 in the'present instance is enlarged and slotted at I66, Fig. 6, and a stop pin I61, fixed with casting I34 limits the swinging of the arm to the correct amount to actuate members I46 and I56, and a spring I68 is coiled in the present instance, about shaft I52 and acts to center the arm and shaft so as to leave said members free when no force is exerted on lever I63. For this purpose, one end, I69 of the spring is engaged on one side of above mentioned stop pin I61 and also on-one side of a lug I10 fixed with arm I60. The other end, I1I of the spring is engaged on the other side of pin I61 and lug I10 with the result that, when lug I10 is displaced from pin I61, by swinging of arm I 60, spring I68 is opened as indicated in dotted lines. Spring I68 is biased to resist opening and accordingly returns the parts to the central position shown as soon as any displacing force is removed.

Reservoir II2 has a filler plug I12 carrying a measuring device or stick I13, which indicates the level of fluid in the reservoir when plug I12 is removed, the plug being hollow and containing a quantity of cotton waste or other suitable filteranswer I15 leads from the interior of the plug to the interior of reservoir I I2. In this manner the interior of the reservoir is vented to the atmosphere without admitting dirt to the system.

Tractors of the character hereinabove set forth are often sold under conditions which do not justify the added cost of the power lift, and under such conditions the implements can be lifted by hand by the exertion of the necessary additional manual force, certain of the above described parts being retained and used with the hand lift as hereinbefore stated.

Thus, as seen in Fig. '1, a tractor I18, in itself identical with above described tractor I8, is fitted with the same front rigs I8 and I1, lift rods 8|, and yoke 28. Thus the manufacture of these units can be carried out in sufflcient quantity to supply both hand and power lift tractor cultivators, with consequent economy. Rocking of yoke 28, Fig. 'I, will raise and lower rigs I8 and I1 in the identical manner above described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2. However, in the present instance a lever I11 is fulcrumed on a pivot I18 carried by a. support I18 fixed with a bracket I88 permanently attached to the tractor and corresponding to above described bracket 88. Support I18 is anchored at its rear end by bolts I8I-I8I and comprises part of a clamp portion corresponding to above mentioned element 58. A lower clamping element I82 is secured by bolts I8I to axle portion 44 and serves to pivotally support a rear cultivator frame as will appear.

Lever I11 may be of any suitable type within the contemplation of the invention in the present instance having a pivoted handle or grip portion I88 actuating suitable detent mechanism generally designated as I84 engaging with a quadrant I85 carried in the present instance by support I18. Lever I11 is connected through a pivot I88 and a link I81 with a pivot bolt I88 corresponding substantially with above mentioned pivot bolt 88 and serving also to connect above mentioned lever 85 with yoke 28.

Rocking of lever I11 will accordingly cause corresponding rocking of yoke 28 and raising and lowering of rigs I6 and I1.

Rocking of portion I88 disengages detent mechanism I84 in well-known manner, the latter automatically reengaging with notches as I88 in quadrant I85 at predetermined points. This action automatically locks the mechanism in either raised or lowered position without attention on the part of the operator.

Link I81 has a rearwardly extending rod I88 pivoted thereto at I8I and which has a collar I82 engaging an upstanding arm I88 constituting a part of a rearwardly extending frame generally designated as I84. Frame I84 corresponds substantially with above mentioned square pipe 48 and its attached parts and includes a pipe or bar I85, Figs. '7 and 8, carried by rearwardly extending arms I85 and I81 pivoted respectively to a clamping element I88 and to above mentioned element I82 by pivot bolts as I88. Braces 288 and 28I lead respectively from arms I85 and I81 to bar I85 to steady the structure laterally, and above mentioned upstanding arm I88 is mounted in any suitable manner on arm I81. Braces 282 and 288 extend from an upper portion of arm I88 outwardly and rearwardly substantially to the points of attachment, respectively, of arms I86 and I81 to bar I85. In this way the pull of the rod is transmitted to frame I84 at one side thereof without introducing substantial distortion into the frame. Cultivator tools 82, 88 and 84 in this instance are mounted on bar I85 in a manner identical with that shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The weight of the various cultivator parts may be considerable and, to avoid the necessity of undue manual exertion, lever I11 has a downwardly extending arm 284 connecting with a spring 285, which exerts a continuous backward pull on the arm to assist the operator in lifting the implements. In the present embodiment, arm 284 slopes forwardly, even in the most forward position of lever I11, so that, if the latter is moved back and spring 285 is stretched, the spring approaches a dead center relative to pivot I18. Thus the effect of the spring can be kept substantially constant even thoughit is relaxing while the implements are being lifted.

Spring 285 isanchored at one end on a bolt 288 having a nut 281 bearing against a bracket 288 carried in the present instance by above mentioned support I18. At the other end it is connected with arm 284 by a plate 288 and pivot 2I8. To further assist in lifting the implements, a spring 2 is preferably connected by an adjusting bolt 2I2 with a bracket 2I8 on -lifting rod 8| and anchored in a plate 2 on square pipe I4, and which will be further described. Spring 2 continuously urges rod 8I forwardly and thereby assistsin lifting the implements.

Returning to a more detailed consideration of the cultivator rigs I Ii and I1', referring to Figs. 1 and 2, square pipe I'5 carries a plurality of clamps 2I5 and 2I8 each composed of a pair of apertured plates 2I1 and 2I8, Figs. 9 and 18, through which passes above mentioned square pipe I5. Plates '2I1 and 2I8 are clamped on the pipe in the present instance by a pair of interengaging wedges 2I8 and 228 inserted between pipe I5 and the lower margin of the apertures in said plates and pressed toward each other by a bolt 22] and nut 222. The wedges provide aligned openings for the bolt and which accommodate it with sufficient freedom to allow considerable movement of the wedges on each other without interference by the bolt. Thus tightening of nut 222 forces the wedges firmly upwardlyagainst pipe I5 and downwardly against plates M1 and 2I8, thus forcing the plates downwardly against pipe I5, so that the assemblage grips pipe I5firmly above and below and is clamped immovably thereon. whole may be readily shifted along pipe I5 to any desired position, or removed therefrom at will.

Clamp 2I5 is preferably identical andneed not be further described.

Clamp 2I'8 supports upper and lower parallel links 228 and 224, respectively on pivot bolts 225 go and 228, traversing the plates and supported therein and which are joined in a vertical direction by a pair of plates 221 and 228, Figs. 1 and 2, link 228 traversing a trunnion block 228 oscillatably supported on trunnions as 288 journaled in the plates. Block 228 is adjusted along link 228 by means of nuts 28I and 282 to adjust the attitude of plates 221 and 228. Link 224 is pivoted on a bolt 238.

Plates 221 and 228 may be used for attaching 7 various implements to the tractor and which will be raised and lowered by the swinging of links 228 and 224. In the present instance a cultivator is shown in Fig. 1 having a beam 284 to which are attached standards 285 and 286 carrying shovels 7 281 and 288. Similarly clamping means 2|! car- However, with nut 222 loosened, the

ries plates 239, Fig. 2, supporting a beam 248 equipped with shovels as 241 in similar manner. The details of these shovels forming no part of the present invention, they will not be further described.

Above mentioned square shaft 34 is slidable in bushings 242, Figs. 9 and 10,-journaled in plates 211 and 218 and has an arm 243, Figs. 1 and 2, to which is pivoted a connecting block 244 in which is slidable a lifting rod 245. Rod 245 is pivotally connected at 248 to above mentioned link 224. Rod 245 is prevented from sliding through block 244 in one direction by a collar 241 and a spring 248, compressed between an abutment 249 and block 244 yieldingly urges link 224 down, upon rearward swinging of arm 243. Similar arms and rods, 243 and 245, respectively are associated with clamp 215 and the other front rigs carried by clamps 258 and 251. The latter and their attached rigs being substantially identical with clamps 2 I 5 and 218 and their attached parts, need not be further described.

Suitable or well-known expedients are utilized for holding the various parts together, in the present instance square pipe 15, Fig. 1, being received in a socket portion 252 of front truck 18 and having a lon bolt 253 traversing the pipe and engaged in truck 18. outer end of pipe 15 and a nut 255 tensions bolt 253 and presses cap 254 and pipe 15 firmly into socket portion 252. Pipe 14 is held in place in an identical manner not necessary to describe further.

The above represents a complete description of a preferred working embodiment of the mechanism and expedients for attaching a cultivator to a tractor of the character described and these same parts, or many of them, are used in adapting various other implements to be used on the tractor. Great variation is possible in the details of implementsnecessary for the many different conditions encountered and the expedients shown are readily adaptable to these various conditions.

, instance the tractor carries and actuates plows including share portions 218 and 211 carried respectively by beams 212 and 213 spaced apart by a spreader 214, the assemblage being drawn by the tractor and lifted when necessary by means Of a yoke or lifting arm 215. Yoke 215 is pivoted at 218 on the tractor and has an upstanding arm 211 pivotally connected at 218 with link 219 connected at 288 with above mentioned bell crank 93. Yoke' 215 is preferably bifurcated and also pivoted at 281, having an upstanding arm 282 connected in similar manner by a link 283 with above mentioned bell crank 11. It will therefore *be apparent that swinging of yoke 23 as above fully described, will raise or lower yoke 215, thus lifting or lowering plows 218 and 211 as desired.

Returning to a more detailed description of the plows, a fitting or cross bar 284 is bolted or 'otherwise solidly fixed with axle portion 2| and has a A cap 254 closes the" The parts so farbifurcated portion sion shaft 288. Shaft 288 has a rearwardly extending arm 281 extending beneath above'm'entioned axle portion 44 and pivotally connected at 288 with a fitting 289 connected with above mentioned beam 218. Pivot 288 is adjustable up and down with rocking of shaft 288,by means of a link 298 connected at 291 with an am 292 of a lever 293 fulcrumed at 284 on a plate 295. Plate 295 constitutes a clamping portion fixed on axle member 44 by bolts 298-296 engaging a clamping portion 291 engaged beneath axle portion 44. Plate 295 has a quadrant portion 298 with which lever 293 may be engaged and also supports above mentioned pivot 218. Adjusting of lever 293 raises or lowers pivot point'288 which changes the depth of operation of share 211 in a manner well understood. y

Rocking of shaft 288 as better seen in Fig.12, rocks an arm 299 fixed on shaft 288 and pivoted at 388 to a fitting 381 carried 'on above mentioned beam 212. Pivot point 388 is therefore raised and lowered in coincidence with pivot point 288 by the actionof lever 293 so that plow share 218 is adjusted along with share 21L- Lever 293 therefore adjusts the plowing depth of both shares. As is well-known, the tractor ordinarily runs with one wheel in the furrow which gives it a substantial tilt to one side. The amount of this tilt will change with changes in the depth of plowing. Since it is desirable that the plows themselves shall run level, an adjustment is provided to acv commodate this tilting of the tractor without corresponding tilting of the plow. In the present.

instance a yoke 382 is fixed with above mentioned bar 284 and in which is engaged above mentioned shaft 288, yoke 382 being disposed in the present instance on the left side of the tractor or the side opposite to above mentioned bifurcated portion 285. At this point shaft 288 is connected by a link 3113 to an arm'384 of a lever 385 by means of a pivot 388. Lever 385 is fulcrumed at 381 in a plate 388 similar in character to plate 295. Plate 388 is clamped to axle portion 45 by bolts 389-389 and carries above mentioned pivot 281, Plate 388 also has a quadrant portion 310 for retaining lever 385 in desired adjustment. As will be apparent, shifting of lever 385 will raise or Yoke 215 is connected by means of a slide fitting w an pivoted at an, and a rod 313 with a lug m by means of a pivot 315. Lug 314 is carried by above mentioned spreader 214 and constitutes the means through which yoke 215 raises beams 212 and 213. Rod 313 slides through fitting 311 and 313 in predetermined relation to yoke 215. Thus plows 218 and 211 are free to rise and fall to a certain extent to follow the inequalities of the ground but are controlled somewhat by springs 318 and 311 to promote steady running. It will thus be apparent that plows 218 and 211 are carried and operated by tractor 18 and may be raised and lowered by mechanism common to the tractor as above described.

The operation of the various embodiments is thought to be clear in general from the above description, it being noted, however, that lever 182, when spring 189 has completed the retracting movement of plunger 98 and the attached parts,

is substantially in dead-center, relation to link 10 285 in which is received a tor-' I03, .as indicated in Fig. 3. Link I03 therefore strongly resists any forward movement of yoke 23 and thus resists upward movement of the implements attached to the linkage. The implements are thus "locked in the ground under the pressure of springs ll, 2, etc. Plunger 88 is, of course, powerful enough to readily overcome the locking action.

What is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a tractor having an elongated body portion and adapted for propelling a soil working implement, the combination of a yoke journaled at the mid-portion of the tractor for fore and aft. rocking movement, a fluid motor for rocking said yoke in one direction, a connection from the yoke to the implement for lifting the latter upon actuation of the fluid motor, a retracting spring for the yoke anchored to the tractor and connections from the spring to the yoke including a link and lever mounted so as to be swung in one direction by said spring, said lever being so disposed as to take a substantially dead center position relatively to said link when the fluid motor is retracted and the implement is in working position, whereby to maintain said implement firmly in the ground when saidfiuid motor is retracted by the pressure of said spring multiplied by said link and lever.

2. In a tractor for carrying and propelling implements mounted at the front thereof, said tractor having a body portion, a support mounted at the front of the tractor, a rearwardly extending implement support carried by said front support and capable of up-and-down movement for raising and lowering an implement carried thereby, a yoke iournaled at spaced points on opposite sides of said body portion, .means for rocking said yoke forwardly and backwardiy at will, a rock shaft for raising said implement, an adjustable connection from said yoke to said rock shaft for rocking said rock shaft through a series of ranges for providing a depth adjustment in the down position of the implement and by virtue of adjustment of said .adiustable connection, an arm extending from said rock shaft and a link extending from said arm to said rearwardly extending implement support, said link being pivoted to said arm and to said rearwardly extending support at such points that said link approaches a dead center position with relation to said arm androck shaft when said implement is in raised position, so that adjustment of said range of movement of said rock shaft has little effect on the position of said implement when it is in raised position, buta comparatively large effect on said implement when in its lowered position.

Number Name Date 1,629,543 Spahn May 24, 1937 1,331,997 Brown Nov. 17, 1931 1,864,122 Cole -1 June 21, 1932 2,070,155 Day Feb. 9, 1937 2,076,673 Roper Apr. 13, 1937 2,092,608 Lindgren et al. Sept. 7, 1937 2,171,330 Hayes Sept. 5, 1939 2,230,331 Mobley Feb. 4, 1941 2,233,011 Hinds et a1. Feb. 25, 1941 2,239,337 Johnson 2. Apr. 32, 1941 2,264,575 Knapp et al. Dec. 2, 1941 2,293,539 Mott et a1. Oct. 13, 1943 2,304,369 Fink etal. Dec. 15, 1942 2,309,221 Smith Jan. 26, 1943' 2,324,366 Moft July 20,1943 2,332,720 Hippie Oct. 26, 1943 2,346,321 Mott Apr. 11, 1344 2,363,156 Orelind et al. Jan. 30, 1945 2,372,459 Todd Mar. 27, 1945.

3. An implement control device for a tractor, having a slender longitudinally extending body portion, and adapted for carrying and propelling soil working implements, said device comprising a substantially rigid bifurcated yoke-like element astride said slender longitudinal body portion and journ'aled at transversely spaced points thereon for fore-and-aft rocking movement, a Power lift ram connected for rocking said yokelike element in one direction and connections from said yoke-like element for raising said implements in response to rocking of said yoke-like element in said direction, and means foractuating said yoke inthe other direction comprising a link pivotally connected with said yoke, a lever pivotally connected to a fixed point on the tractor spaced from said yoke, a connection between said link and said lever spaced from the pivotal connection thereof to the tractor, and a spring connected to the lever so as to urge it in a yoke retracting direction, and said link and-said lever being disposed in a sharply transverse position relatively to each other when said ram and spring are extended and s0 proportioned as to approach a dead-center position when said ram and spring are retracted and said implements are lowered, whereby said implements are held in the ground with substantial force regardless of the comparatively relaxed condition of the spring.

ROBERT E. HARTSOCK. RICHARD W. HENSS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent? UNITED STATES PATEN'I'S 

